General Meeting: March 2024

Mike Storr had appeared here 6 years ago (2018). This was his follow up about his favourite Music Hall laughter-makers, beginning with the first panto dame in 1951 – Norman Evans at the Palladium.

Mike's talk moved quickly and jumped between times (not easy taking notes for this report) . The Music Halls had grown out of pubs / drinking places but had gone into decline after the war – in the 50s it was all changing. Script-writers became the kings and using the same jokes over and over, and catch-phrases evolved. “Can I do you now”, “Pin back you lugholes” from Cyril Fletcher.

Little stories and poems developed. Marriot Edgar as a script-writer began doing monologues. “Pickup tha musket, Sam” and “Our Mag's getting married” done by Al Reed. More recently Pam Ayres continued the style with “Clive the fearless birdman”. Stanley Holloway did the “Runcorn Ferry”.

It didn't last – TV was taking over and the star names were moving across to the “box” where they could not just repeat the same jokes going around the Halls. Mike did some good vocal impersonations of his heroes

Eric Rennie